Dental instruction device

ABSTRACT

A dental device to provide instructions for cleaning of the teeth and gums wherein a series of instructions are set forth on an endless strip or band. The strip, with the instructions exposed to the viewer, is driven at constant speed. The window comprises a tinted and a clear portion. The instruction being followed passes first under the clear portion and then under the tinted portion and then out of view. This window arrangement allows the viewer to be carrying out one instruction while anticipating the next instruction. At the initiation of each step in the cycle an alarm, light and buzzer, is actuated to advise the viewer the next instruction in the time sequence of instructions should be followed.

United States Patent 1191 Hein [ 1 DENTAL INSTRUCTION DEVICE [76]Inventor: John W. Hein, 3 Bridge St,

Medfield, Mass. 02215 [22] Filed: Apr. 29, 1971 [211 Appl. No.: 138,626

[ June 11, 1974 Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Richard P. Crowley [5 7] ABSTRACT A dental device to provideinstructions for cleaning of the teeth and gums wherein a series ofinstructions are set forth on an endless strip or band. The strip, withthe instructions'exposed to the viewer,ris;driven at constant speed. Thewindow comprises a tinted and a clear portion. The instruction beingfollowed passes first under the clear portion and then under the tintedportion and then out of view. This window arrangement allows the viewerto be carrying out one instruction while anticipating the nextinstruction. At the initiation of each step in the cycle an alarm, lightand buzzer, is actuated to advise the viewer the next instruction in thetime sequence of instructions should be followed.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures wimamum m4 3815244 SHEET 1 OF 3 16 l I l li i 36 JP FIG. 2C INVENTOR JOHN W. HEIN BY I ATTORNEYS 1 DENTALINSTRUCTION DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While many types oftoothbrushes and other toothcleansing instruments have been available tothe public and dental profession for centuries, and while many of theseinstruments are capable of producing a high level of oral hygiene ifused with thoroughness and diligence, it is common knowledge amongstthose concerned with professional dental care and oral health educationthat the majority of persons, young and old alike, do not achieve a highlevel of oral hygiene in their routine efforts to clean their teeth andgums. Studies have revealed several reasons for the publics failure inthis regard. Many people do not devote sufficient time to cleaning theirteeth to permit the particular instrument in use to do a thorough job ofcleansing the teeth and gums. On the other hand, many people who dodevote considerable time to oral hygiene fail to follow routinely athorough pattern of usage, and thus they either overlook the cleaning ofcertain accessible surfaces of their teeth and gums or concentrate anexcessive portion of their total oral hygiene effort on certain regionsof the dentition and gums at the expense of others.

Since thorough cleaning of the teeth and gums on a regular basis isrecognized by both the public and the dental profession as an essentialpersonal hygiene pro cedure for the prevention of common diseases of theteeth and gums and the maintenance of oral health, it is thereforeobvious that any device which can assist and encourage the averageperson, young or old alike to overcome the common errors most frequentlyresponsible for faulty oral hygiene will be of great service and value.

While currently the most widely accepted instructions for toothbrushinginvolve directions that persons should brush their teeth for 3 minutes,three times a day, it is clear that a device which improved thethoroughness and uniformity of toothbrushing, or other hygieneprocedures would also result in a less time consuming personal hygieneprocedure, thus helping to motivate more people to practice a betterlevel of oral hygiene care. I y

The instructionofpersons in proper toothbrushing procedures is atime-consuming task and, as has been pointed out, the results of thisinstruction to date in re spect to the general public have left much tobe de sired. Some of the reasons that oral health education programs inthe school system of the world have not resulted in wide spread adoptionof thorough and efficient oral hygiene habits is that insufficient timeis available for the proper instructions of the pupils, the existingtechniques of instruction are not highly interesting and motivating, andthe teaching is not easily reinforced by comparable oral healtheducation in the home. Under these circumstances, therefore, it is clearthat a simple device which can be used both in the school systems and athome, and which provides an interesting method for achieving thoroughand uniform cleaning of the teeth, will be of great value in theteaching of good oral hygiene practices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides for the first time adevice combining the elements essential to systematizing the cleaning ofthe oral cavity, i.e., providing for cleaning all appropriate structuresof the mouth, and at the same time pacing the cleaning in allappropriate areas, thus assuring adequate cleaning time in each area andreclucing the ofttimes evident tendency to spend too much time cleaningsome areas and too little time cleaning others. i

The pacing feature of this device may have 'various overall timeperiods, to provide the most appropriate good oral hygiene regiment fora variety of individuals and states of oral development and oral health,varying from a fraction of a minute to many minutes for the totalcleaning time. The allocation of segments of the total cleaning time tovarious'appropriate regions of the oral cavity can vary from 0 secondsto several minutes, and the allocations can be standardized in devicesfor general use by different age groups of users or the allocations oftime can be individualized in certain models of the device to provide aspecialized pattern of cleaning for a specific individual. Suchspecialized cases might vary from the requirements for cleaning anedentulous mouth to a mouth with a full complement of natural teeth orany and all intermediate combinations of missing, natural and artificialteeth in misalignment or the presence or absence of oral diseases.

The instructional features of this device perform the dual functions ofinstructing and reminding user of the device of the systematic patternof cleaning to be followed in the performance of personal oral hygieneprocedures. The instructions pertain to the cleaning of the appropriatestructures of the oral cavity including the accessible surfaces ofnatural and artifically restored teeth, the gums, the tongue, thegingival crevices and,

when pertinent, periodontal pockets. The instructions may or may notinclude directions for the systematic use of all oral hygiene devicesincluding but not limited to toothbrushes, tooth picks, dental floss,gingival stimulators, and irrigation devices. The instructions provideby visual and/or audio means a series of directions to be followed bythe user which when followed will pro vide a systematic and thoroughapplication of the oral hygiene device in use to all appropriatestructures and areas of the oral cavity. When more than one oral hygienedevice is to be used (for example, toothbrush followed by dental floss)a separate series of instructions and an appropiate time'pacing. patternmay be provided for each.

The instructions may be audio, visual and audiovisual timing systems incombination with and incorporating in each subdivisions, each of whichsubdivision designates the area and structure of the oral cavity to becleaned during that period of time.

Audio, visual, and audiovisual timing systems include but are notlimited to: conventional electrical and mechanical clocks and timingdevices with circular dials, such as wherein the instructions are on thedial face; numeral indications; bands arranged horizontally, vertically,circularly, or as a segment of an arc; hour glass; tape recorder;phonograph record; timed slide projector and audio-visual systems suchas incorporated in open and closed circuit television. Locations of usefor these devices are readily apparent as in: the home; schools,private, public, parochial; clinics, public, private;eductionalinstitutions of higher learning as dental schools, institutes;dental offices and clinics; armed forces dental and general healthclinics; institu- .tional, public and private living quarters and insuch sanitary facilities as are customarily associated with them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theinvention;

FIGS. 2a. b, and c are front, top and side elevations of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of certain portions of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the instructional tape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) v The dental instructiondevice is shown generally at and includes a start button 12,instructional light change signal 14, viewing area 16 comprising a clearwindow 18 and a tinted window 20 on the front portion of the device 10.Disposed below the .viewing area 16 is a pacing speed selector 22.Referring to FIG. 2b, a top view of the device If), an instructionalstrip 24 on which the complete set of instructions are carried is shown.The path which the instructional strip 24 travels within the device 10is defined by the rollers 260, b, c, d, e, and f. A tension roller 28 issecured to idler arm 29 and is biased upwardly as shown in FIG. 2bagainst the instructional strip 24. A drive roller 30 to move theinstructional strip 24 through the device is shown in combination with asnub roller 32. A microswitch MS! in combination with a microswitchroller 34 and a backup roller 36 are disposed in the lower portion ofthe device. As shown in FIG. 2, a light box 38 in combination with lightsource 40 provides the illumination of the instructional strip 24 andviewing area 16. A motor 42 in combination with a gear reduction box 44drives a gear 46 secured to the shaft of the drive roller 30.

Contacts to complete the electrical communication between the motor 42and the microswitch MSl are shown at 48 in FIGS. 2a and 2b. Spring 50maintains tension on snub roller 32 and the snub roller 32 is biasedagainst drive roller 30. A buzzer 52 as shown in FIG. 3 is disposed inthe upper portion of the device 10. The brush 60 as shown in FIGS. 2aand 2c is adapted to engage the contact strip 62.

A sectional view of the strip chart is shown in FIG. 5 and the upperportion of the instructional strip is characterized by a plurality ofspaced signal holes 54. The lower portion of the instructional strip ischaracterized by a microswitch roller hole 56 and the front or exposedportion of the instructional strip is characterized by a plurality ofseparate instructions relating to the cleaning or irrigation of the oralcavity.

In the operation of my invention pacing speed selector switch 22 is setto a position as shown, the-2 position, that is the brushing speed,which controls the speed of the electric motor 42 thereby the drive ofthe gear reduction box and the drive roller 46 which moves theinstructional strip through its path. The starter button 12 is thenactuated as shown in FIGS. 2a and 4 closing the microswitch M51. Thepower from the batteries in series drives the motor 42, gear reductionbox 44, which turns gear 46 secured to drive roller 30. While thestarter switch 12 is held in a depressed position, the instructionalstrip and more specifically the microswitch roller hole 56 shown in FIG.5 moves out of register with the microswitch roller 34 and the backuproller. The combination of the instructional strip 24 held in positionby backup roller 36 biases the microswitch roller 34 to the left asshown in FIG. 20 and accordingly, the microswitch is held in the on orclosed position by the instructional strip 24. This is shown moreclearly in the schematic of FIG. 4.

The light source 40, such as a 3.5 volt bulb, disposed in the light box38 as the electric motor 46 remains in an on or actuated conditionthrough one cycle of instructions or until the microswitch roller hole56 is in register with the microswitch roller 34 and the backup roller36 at which time the microswitch MSl moves to the off position. Duringthe cycle the instructions to be followed are shown through the clearwindow 18 while the previous instructions can be seen through the tintedwindow 20. As shown in the drawing, the instructions move from right toleft. The concept of the tinted and clear window combination allows theviewer to complete a first instruction while anticipating the second ornext instruction. The drive roller 30 as shown in FIG. 2b rotatescounterclockwise. As shown, the instructional strip is an endless bandand its path is defined by rollers 26a-f. Snub roller 32is biased intothe drive roller 30 by spring 33. This maximizes the driving frictionalengagement between the drive roller 30 and the instructional strip 24.Disposed adjacent the drive roller is guide roller 35 and to maintainthe proper tension on the instructional strip 24 is tension roller 28 incombination with idler arm 29 which is biased upwardly as shown in FIG.2b to maintain the desired tension on the instructional strip 24 byspring 31.

As shown in FIG. 5, the signal holes 54 are disposed at approximatelythe beginning of each instruction and positioned in the upper portion ofthe instructional strip 24. The larger holes, such as shown forinstructions a and b are to give a longer signal and are used primarilyfor major changes in instructions while the smaller holes give a briefsignal used for intrainstruction pacing. The instructional stripemployed in the preferred embodiment is made of a translucentplasticlike material which is flexible, stretch set, resistant, andtough, such as sand-blasted Mylar.

Referring to FIGS. 20, 4, and 5, when the initial instruction iscomplete and the next instruction is about to or is just commencing, thesignal hole 54 at the top of the instructional strip registers with thebrush 60 and the contact strip 62 which allows the brush to make contactwith the strip 62. This allows the buzzer 52, shown in FIG. 3, and thesignal light 14, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to be actuated for the durationof the contact between the brush and contact strip while the signal hole54 is in register with the same. As the instructional strip continuesits movement, the signal hole 54 moves out of register with the brushand contact strip breaking the electrical communication therebetween inremoving the current from the buzzer 52 and signal light 14. Therefore,through the spacing and size of the signal holes in the top of the strip24 the signal light and buzzer are actuated periodically and forpredetermined periods of time to signal what the next instruction is.

The duration of the specific instructions of the series of instructionsare thus determined in the preferred embodiment by the length of theinstruction on a segment of the instructional strip. The strip continuesthrough the path defined by the rollers 26a f, 28, 30, and 35., untilsuch time as the microswitch roller hole 56 registers with themicroswitch roller 34 and backup roller 36 at which time the microswitchMSl moves to the off position removing the current from the light source40 and electric motor 42.

Although described with three batteries in series, it is of coursepossible to use any power supply, such as that commonly derived from anelectric outlet in com bination with a transformer to convert l AC to 6volt AC and then a rectifier, such as a solid state rectifier, toconvert the 6 volt AC to 6 volt DC. The signal light in an alternativeembodiment may be used alone or in combination with the buzzer, or othersignaling means may be used, either audio and/or visual. The viewingarea 16 secured to the front of the instrument It) as shown comprises aclear window 18 and a tinted win dow 20 to allow the user of the deviceto anticipate the next instruction. Of course, any light source may beused or none at all, and the instructional strip used may be made of anysuitable material and may either be translucent as described with theinstructions printed thereon or may be opaque with the instructionsprinted thereon as long as the viewer may easily read the instructions.The strip 24 has been shown as an endless band, but of course it mayassume other embodiments such as moving through the viewing area onceand then being rewound, such as a movie film cartridge, prior to thenext cycle. The signal holes and microswitch roller holes are usedmerely to ensure electrical communication at the proper time. The holesmay be filled with an electrically conducting material to accomplish thesame purpose. Gptionally, various instructional strips may be inserted,depending upon the user, i.e., different inserts for children, theelderly, etc. The duration of each of the instructions has beendetermined by the actual length the particular instruction occupies onthe strip with the strip driven at constant speed. Each of the sets ofinstructions may occupy a uniform portion of the strip with the stripdriven a variable speed correlated to the specific instruction.

Having described my invention, what I now claim is:

l. A visual instruction device which comprises in combination:

a. means to display in continuous timed sequence at least one of aplurality of visual instructional units wherein the means includes adisplay window, the window having a tinted portion and a clear portion,and the tinted and clear sections dimensioned such that at least aportion of two instructional units are positioned in the window at anytime;

b. means to commence a cycle of said instructional units;

c. means to control the time of display of each of said instructionalunits within the cycle, the time of dis play controlled to approximatethe time for the viewer to carry out the instructional unit displayed inthe clear portion of the window; and

d. means to terminate said cycle of instructional units. I

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means to display the instructionsincludes band means having the instructions thereon.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the instructional units are set forthin sequence on the display means, and the means to display theinstructional units in timed sequence includes means to display saidinstructional units at a fixed rate, the rate selected to provide theviewer time to carry out the instructional unit displayed. i

4. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said instructionalunits occupies a nonuniform portion of said display means and saiddisplay means are driven at a constant speed rate, whereby at least oneof said instructional units is displayed for a different duration oftime than another of said instructional units.

5. The device of claim 1 which includes signal means to indicate theinitiation or termination of each of said instructional units.

6. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the means to display includes:

a. an endless strip with instructional units thereon;

b. a single unidirectional motor means to drive the strip so as todisplay sequentially the instructional units in the clear portion of thewindow;

c. means to illuminate the instructional units displayed in the clearportion of the window; and

(1. gear means to control the drive rate of the strip.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the edge portion of the strip ischaracterized by a plurality of signal holes spaced-at the start and endof each unit of instruction, and which device includes a signal means toindicate the commencement or termination of each unit of instructionsdisplayed in the clear portion of the window and a microswitch meansadapted to activate the signal means and responsive to the signal holesin the strip.

8. A dental instruction device which comprises in combinationf aninstructional strip having a plurality of separate visual instructionalunits therein;

means to move the strip continuously for a timed sequence along apredetermined path; means to display in a continuous time sequence thetime of display of at least one of said instructional units to theviewer for a predetermined time period, the time period related to thetime required for the viewer to perform the instructional unit, themeans to display the instructional units includes a window, said windowhaving a tinted portion and a clear portion and dimensioned such that atleast two instructional units are in the window, whereby the viewer mayfollow a first instructional unit passing by the clear portion and intothe tinted portion while anticipating the following instructional unitpassing into the clear portion; signal means to indicate when each ofsaid instructional units is commencing or terminating; and

means to control the display of each of said instructional units, thetime display controlled to the time required for the viewer to carry outthe instructions.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the instructional strip includes meansthereon to initiate or terminate means to actuate a signal on the startor termination .of each instructional unit. I

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the instructional strip is an endlessband and wherein the device includes a plurality of guide rollers, thestrip in contacting engagement with the rollers. said rollers definingthe path through which the strip is moved.

1. A visual instruction device which comprises in combination: a. meansto display in continuous timed sequence at least one of a plurality ofvisual instructional units wherein the means includes a display window,the window having a tinted portion and a clear portion, and the tintedand clear sections dimensioned such that at least a portion of twoinstructional units are positioned in the window at any time; b. meansto commence a cycle of said instructional units; c. means to control thetime of display of each of said instructional units within the cycle,the time of display controlled to approximate the time for the viewer tocarry out the instructional unit displayed in the clear portion of thewindow; and d. means to terminate said cycle of instructional units. 2.The device of claim 1 wherein the means to display the instructionsincludes band means having the instructions thereon.
 3. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the instructional units are set forth in sequence on thedisplay means, and the means to display the instructional units in timedsequence includes means to display said instructional units at a fixedrate, the rate selected to provide the viewer time to carry out theinstructional unit displayed.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein at leastone of said instructional units occupies a nonuniform portion of saiddisplay means and said display means are driven at a constant speedrate, whereby at least one of said instructional units is displayed fora different duration of time than another of said instructional units.5. The device of claim 1 which includes signal means to indicate theinitiation or termination of each of said instructional units.
 6. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein the means to display includes: a. an endlessstrip with instructional units thereon; b. a single unidirectional motormeans to drive the strip so as to display sequentially the instructionalunits in the clear portion of the window; c. means to illuminate theinstructional units displayed in the clear portion of the window; and d.gear means to control the drive rate of the strip.
 7. The device ofclaim 6 wherein the edge portion of the strip is characterized by aplurality of signal holes spaced at the start and end of each unit ofinstruction, and which device includes a signal means to indicate thecommencement or termination of each unit of instructions displayed inthe clear portion of the window and a microswitch means adapted toactivate the signal means and responsive to the signal holes in thestrip.
 8. A dental instruction device which comprises in combination: aninstructional strip having a plurality of separate visual instructionalunits therein; means to move the strip continuously for a timed sequenceaLong a predetermined path; means to display in a continuous timesequence the time of display of at least one of said instructional unitsto the viewer for a predetermined time period, the time period relatedto the time required for the viewer to perform the instructional unit,the means to display the instructional units includes a window, saidwindow having a tinted portion and a clear portion and dimensioned suchthat at least two instructional units are in the window, whereby theviewer may follow a first instructional unit passing by the clearportion and into the tinted portion while anticipating the followinginstructional unit passing into the clear portion; signal means toindicate when each of said instructional units is commencing orterminating; and means to control the display of each of saidinstructional units, the time display controlled to the time requiredfor the viewer to carry out the instructions.
 9. The device of claim 8wherein the instructional strip includes means thereon to initiate orterminate means to actuate a signal on the start or termination of eachinstructional unit.
 10. The device of claim 8 wherein the instructionalstrip is an endless band and wherein the device includes a plurality ofguide rollers, the strip in contacting engagement with the rollers, saidrollers defining the path through which the strip is moved.